The Origin Of The Domestic Cat

Cats are one of the most popular pets, and many households have at least one. They come in all shapes and sizes, and there is a breed to suit everybody. But have you ever wondered about the history of the domestic cat, and how, where and when they originated?

The first cats were domesticated by the Egyptians around 4000 years ago. They were the first to see the potential of using cats to protect grain and other foods from vermin. Cats gradually came to be worshipped, and the death penalty was imposed on anyone killing a cat. If a cat died, the whole family shaved off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning, and cats were mummified after death like humans. A building containing around 250,000 cat mummies has been found during recent archeological excavations.

Other civilizations began to domesticate cats to control pests, and as colonies were established, tame cats were gradually taken around the world, eventually arriving in Europe and travelling to the New World of America with the Pilgrim Fathers. It is felt that short haired cats originated in Egypt, whereas the longer haired cats are from Iran and Turkey. The Siamese is believed to have originated from the Golden Cat, and the Persian from the longer haired Pallas cat.

The domestic cat is thought to have evolved from the African Wild cat, due to the similarity of the tabby markings, and the temperament; the African Wild cat, if brought up by humans, will look on them as family, whereas other small wild cat breeds will always remain untamed and distrustful.

The popularity of the cat dropped drastically in the Middle Ages, as they became associated with Witchcraft and evil, and they were unfairly persecuted. Happily, in the more enlightened eras from the eighteenth century onwards, cats regained their popularity and are now one of the most common pet choices of today.